Multimedia Collections & Services News

The UB Libraries would like to thank all the participants in the 2015 Oscar Prediction Contest. After tallying up all the categories, we were surprised to find that no one predicted all eight correctly so no prizes were awarded. Just kidding! The 4 participants who got seven correct and the 2 participants (out of 18) who got six correct and won the drawing received the prizes ($25 AMC Theatres Gift Card).

The category that stumped people the most was the Best Animated Feature. Most people predicted How to Train Your Dragon 2 would be the winner instead of Big Hero 6 (the actual winner), both were great films and it probably could have gone either way.

The University Libraries and Undergraduate Academies are pleased to announce our “Book & Film of the Month” selections for March:

BOOK: Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman! by Richard P. Feynman

Published in 1985, Richard Feynman draws the reader in with stories from his life. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 and lived a dynamic life. The book covers all different aspects of his life, such as the culmination of his graduate studies where he lectured to Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Pauli. Feynman delves into his experiences helping with the Manhattan Project and he also discusses his musical endeavors. Feynman is full of stories that will captivate and entertain the reader. Best of all, this book gives insight into the human side of an incredibly accomplished academic.

A classic 1968 sci-fi film directed by Stanley Kubrick, this epic deals with space exploration. It is considered a masterpiece, and in 1969 Kubrick won an Academy Award for best visual effects. Aside from the award winning visual effects, sound, and cinematography, the film also boasts a compelling story. There is trouble on a space expedition to Jupiter between the two astronauts and their artificially intelligent computer HAL 9000. As they journey to Jupiter, the reliability and veracity of artificial intelligence is called into question. This film focuses on the relationships between humans, machines, and space. Masterfully written, this movie has many equally valid interpretations, and many of them will leave the viewer with questions.

The DVD is available on reserve in the Silverman Multimedia Collection:

Both selections are part of our 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films initiatives; titles on these lists were chosen by UB faculty and staff members of the Undergraduate Academies Council to reflect the themes of the five Academies: Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Global Perspectives, Research Exploration and Sustainability. Think of them as “unrequired” reading and viewing suggestions. All 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films are available in the UB Libraries.

Contest is open to all UB Students. Participants predicting the highest number of categories correctly will be entered into the drawing for prizes. Six lucky winners from the drawing will each receive a $25 AMC Theatres Gift Card.

The University Libraries and Undergraduate Academies are pleased to announce our “Book & Film of the Month” selections for February:

BOOK: Ain’t No Makin’ It by Jay MacLeod

Jay MacLeod’s book examines two groups of men and the sociological conditions that mold their lives. Delving into the topics of class, poverty, and race, the men that MacLeod follows illustrate the realities of social inequality. With each new edition, MacLeod checks back in with the men to see how they are each doing. Still read in sociology classrooms today, this book shines a light on social inequality.

This aptly named documentary follows the Internet business craze in 2000. It trails two best friends, Kaleil and Tom, as they try to create a business with a simple idea- paying parking tickets online. They run into various problems, and this documentary takes a look at the highs and lows of creating, running, and selling an Internet business. Winner of numerous awards, this film gives a face to the people who tried to become millionaires during the Internet Bubble.

Both selections are part of our 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films initiatives; titles on these lists were chosen by UB faculty and staff members of the Undergraduate Academies Council to reflect the themes of the five Academies: Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Global Perspectives, Research Exploration and Sustainability. Think of them as “unrequired” reading and viewing suggestions. All 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films are available in the UB Libraries.

Need a video for your class? There is still time to order streaming videos from Swank Digital Campus and Kanopy Streaming Video for your Spring courses. Swank Digital Campus offers a wide selection of feature films that can be embedded into your UBLearns courses. Kanopy Streaming Video are more focused on documentary and educational films. To request a film from Swank Digital Campus, please follow the “Requesting Swank Videos” link on the webpage. Kanopy films may be used directly from their website. Please contact the Multimedia Collections & Services department with any question or for more information.

The University Libraries and Undergraduate Academies are pleased to announce our “Book & Film of the Month” selections for January:

BOOK: A Dog’s Purpose

Taking an unexpected look at the human-pet relationship, this book details one dog’s lives. Throughout the book, one dog is reincarnated as a different dog usually of a different breed, gender, and circumstances. During each of these lives, the dog tries to find his purpose. A New York Times Best Seller, this moving book illuminates a new perspective on life.

This Mongolian-German film tells a familiar story – a young girl, Nansal, who finds a cute dog and takes him home. However, since Nansal’s family has recently had trouble with wolves attacking their sheep, her father does not want her to keep the dog. Set in the picturesque Mongolia, this film features many shots of the beautiful landscape. An award winner at the Cannes Film Festival, this film is enjoyable for people of all ages.

Both selections are part of our 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films initiatives; titles on these lists were chosen by UB faculty and staff members of the Undergraduate Academies Council to reflect the themes of the five Academies: Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Global Perspectives, Research Exploration and Sustainability. Think of them as “unrequired” reading and viewing suggestions. All 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films are available in the UB Libraries.

The University Libraries and Undergraduate Academies are pleased to announce our “Book & Film of the Month” selections for December:

FILM: Begone Dull Care

This is a short (8-minute), experimental, “visual music” animated film from 1949. Directors McLaren and Lambart used a drawn-on-film technique, painting colored shapes and scratching directly on the film stock to make a visual representation of the rhythms and variations of its jazz soundtrack, played by the great Canadian jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson. The film is preserved as a “masterwork” by the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada.

An omnibus edition of three collections of poems by Margaret Atwood: Poems 1965-1975, Poems 1976-1986, and Morning in the Burned House. Through bus trips and postcards, wilderness and trivia, she reflects the passion and energy of a writer intensely engaged with her craft and the world.

Both selections are part of our 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films initiatives; titles on these lists were chosen by UB faculty and staff members of the Undergraduate Academies Council to reflect the themes of the five Academies: Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Global Perspectives, Research Exploration and Sustainability. Think of them as “unrequired” reading and viewing suggestions. All 48 Good Books and 48 Good Films are available in the UB Libraries.

As a student, you may need to prepare a presentation for class with visuals, or a poster for a conference, or need images, video and audio for a digital publication. The University Libraries are committed to supporting your UB educational experience, and are undergoing a pilot project that will provide two computers with a variety of multimedia software, as well as a variety of equipment to create multimedia files. Sign out a camera, or an accessory to make your cell phone a better recording device. Computing time and loanable equipment must be reserved ahead of time. Details are available on our web page.

The Multimedia Creation Lab is located on the South Campus, in the Health Sciences Library, Room 105 Abbott Hall, and the service is available to all current UB students.

The University Libraries are providing even more access to streaming videos to support classroom instruction. Kanopy Streaming Video is now available through a joint pilot project with other regional colleges.

Kanopy offers more than 6,500 films in a wide variety of subject areas and from several educational film distributors including these popular collections: Criterion Collection, Symptom Media, PBS, Green Planet Films, First Run Features, California Newsreel, BBCActive, NEVCO and German Film.

Create clips/playlists and embed any video or clip in UBlearns. Questions? Please contact Multimedia Collections and Services at lib-media@buffalo.edu.